FAYETTEVILLE - The conversation around Arkansas freshman JJ Andrews is about more than whether he can help right away. The bigger question is how high the ceiling goes for the 5-star true freshman and Razorback legacy guard from Little Rock.
At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Andrews flashed that upside in Arkansas’ 76-72 exhibition win over No. 15 Gonzaga, finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one steal in a little more than 23 minutes. He came close to a double-double and made his presence felt well beyond the box score.
What stands out with Andrews is the blend of size, energy and versatility. He has the tools to be a tough cover on offense and a problem defensively, and he already showed signs of being a two-way difference-maker as part of the stretch that helped force Gonzaga into nine straight stops in the second half on Saturday.
His effort never seemed to fade. The longer he stayed on the floor, the more active he looked, chasing loose balls, battling on the glass and turning hustle plays into real possessions for Arkansas.
That was especially clear in the second half, when he knocked down both of his three-point attempts and broke out his "Spiderman" celebration, which clearly landed with the student section.
Andrews gives Arkansas a valuable kind of production because he can help in multiple ways without needing the ball in his hands all the time. That kind of player fits naturally into John Calipari’s rotation, though Calipari also said Monday on his radio show at Walk-On's that he’s still being patient with how the offense will take shape.
“Let's just talk about how many months we've got: November, December, January, February, March and, hopefully, April,” Calipari said during his radio show Monday at Walk-On's. “I shouldn't be in a hurry.
"We got a lot of time, and when you get a good team, but they're really young, they develop over a period of time. I think we've got a good group that'll battle.
They're competitive. They want to win every drill.”
For Arkansas, Andrews’ physical profile is part of what makes him so intriguing. With a potential NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman for a father, he brings a frame that can handle contact going to the rim while still moving well enough to stick with smaller guards on the perimeter.
He also brings a rebounding mentality that gives the Razorbacks a real edge. Andrews attacks the glass with purpose, helping clean up misses and create second chances that can swing a possession.
If his jumper keeps coming along and he starts creating more offense off the dribble, Andrews could become one of the toughest matchups in the SEC. And if that progression continues, the upside is obvious enough to put him in the mix as a possible 2027 NBA Draft Lottery selection this spring.
In Other News...
Arkansas Just Added More Edge To This Mizzou Rivalry Game
A small but pointed detail has already sharpened the tone for the next Battle Line meeting. Missouri asked to wear its home jerseys for the rivalry game, and Arkansas declined, a reminder that even uniform choices can take on extra meaning when these two schools line up again. The backdrop is familiar enough: recent matchups between the programs have carried plenty of edge, and this one arrives with both teams trying to steady their seasons and protect some momentum heading into the stretch run.
For Arkansas, it is another chance to make the rivalry feel a little more like home, even on the road. For Missouri, the jersey request was a way to add a little comfort and familiarity to a game that already comes with enough built-in tension. The scheduling and season context only heighten it, with each team looking at the matchup as more than just another late-year SEC date. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Gets One More Frontcourt Test As Memphis Waits On Key Big Man
The Razorbacks are getting one last tune-up before the games start counting, and the final exhibition against Memphis should offer a useful look at the interior battle. Memphis forward Nemanja Popovic has been in good form in exhibition play, giving the Tigers a frontcourt piece Arkansas will have to account for if hes available.
Popovics status is still clouded by an NCAA eligibility dispute, which leaves Memphis sorting through the possibility of another key absence as the regular season approaches. For Arkansas, the matchup is less about the final score than about seeing how its bigs handle a physical front line and whether the defense inside is ready for the grind ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Still Has One Major Problem Heading Into Missouri
Arkansas heads into the Missouri game with a familiar kind of concern, and it starts in the middle of the defense. Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts spent time this week breaking down the Tigers wide zone run game, the kind of scheme that can test discipline, leverage and patience all at once. Missouri has leaned on that ground attack effectively this season, and for the Razorbacks, the matchup is going to demand cleaner run fits and more consistent help from the secondary.
Roberts made clear that stopping it is not just about winning at the line of scrimmage, but about the entire defense working together to keep the play from spilling into big gains. Arkansas run defense has to be sharper than it has been if the Razorbacks want a real shot at slowing Missouri down. The question now is whether they can make the adjustment quickly enough before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]